The present kyat was introduced on July 1, 1952. It replaced the rupee at par. Decimalization also took place, with the kyat subdivided into 100 pya.
n 1952, coins were introduced for 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 pyas and 1 kyat. 1 pya coins were last minted in 1966, with the 5 and 25 pya last minted in 1987 and the 10 and 50 pya in 1991. In 1999, a new series of coins was issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 kyats.
In late 2008, the Burmese government announced that new 50 and 100 Kyat coins would be issued. According to newspaper articles, the new 50 kyat coin would be made of copper, with the usual Burmese lion on the observe and the Lotus Fountain from Naypyidaw on the reverse. The 100 Kyat coin would be of cupro-nickle and depict the Burmese lion on the observe and the value on the reverse.
By: Alaincoins
